The Answer to the Argument of Grave Worshippers Using the Saying of Allah the Exalted
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The Shaykh : But someone might say: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is an exception to this, because Allah said: [An-Nisa 4:64], [An-Nisa 4:64] for themselves [An-Nisa 4:64]. This indicates that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) seeks forgiveness for them when they come to him. So what is the answer to this doubt that has confused many people?
The answer is that the verse does not indicate anything future; it indicates something that has already passed and occurred during the life of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Because he said[An-Nisa 4:64]"Idh" is for the past, and "idha" is for the future. So the verse does not indicate this.
Furthermore, he said[An-Nisa 4:64], and the Messenger cannot seek forgiveness for anyone after his death, because he cannot seek forgiveness for himself, let alone for others.
The evidence is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1376Sahih (Darussalam) Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1376Sahih (Darussalam). The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is a human being. Did he die or not? He died. So his deeds were cut off. Is seeking forgiveness a deed or not? When a person says, "O Allah, forgive me," is that a deed or not? It is a deed, but a deed of the tongue. Deeds can be of the tongue or of the limbs. Actions are of the limbs, and speech is of the tongue. That is why speech is considered a type of action, whereas the term "deed" applies to both speech and action.
So the deeds of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were cut off by his death. How can he seek forgiveness for you? He does not seek forgiveness for himself, let alone for you. But pay attention to the end of the hadith:Sahih Muslim 1631. So although the specific deeds of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were cut off by his death, the entire Ummah acts according to his knowledge (peace and blessings be upon him), meaning they act according to what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) taught them. So from whom did the Ummah acquire knowledge? From the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So do the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) benefit from all our deeds based on the knowledge of the Shari'ah, or not?
The student: He benefits.
The Shaykh : He benefits, and he is rewarded for it. He is rewarded for it just as we are rewarded, because all religious knowledge is received from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said:[Sad 38:29], and He said: [An-Nahl 16:44].
By this, we know the deficiency of those who, when they perform an act of obedience, dedicate it to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). There are people who, when they perform an act of obedience, dedicate it to the Messenger, saying, "This is charity for the soul of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." Or they pray two rak'ahs and say, "This is for the soul of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)."
We say: This is a deficiency in understanding. The charity you give, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) receives a reward like yours, even if you do not say so. That is why the jurists, the scholars of Allah and His Shari'ah, the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), never did this. None of them gave charity and said, "This is for the soul of the Messenger." Nor did any of them pray and say, "This is for the soul of the Messenger." None of the blessed generations did this. The Companions, the Successors, and those who followed them in goodness did not dedicate the reward of any deed to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Why? Because they were jurists, scholars who knew that they did not perform any act of obedience except that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had a reward like theirs, because he was the one who guided people to it, i.e., to that righteous deed. So he had a reward like theirs. Even if you see a person neglecting a duty and you guide him to the right path, you receive the reward of his deed based on your teaching him, until he dies. You receive the reward of his deed. The one who guides to good is like the one who does good. The one who guides to good is like the one who does good.
So sincerity to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in worship is a fundamental condition for its acceptance, and shirk (associating partners with Allah), whether in this worship or in anything else, invalidates the worship and everything else. That is why I told you that the one who calls upon a grave, a wali (close friend of Allah), a righteous person, a prophet, or any other created being, his deed is not accepted, even if he is sincere in that deed, because the deed of the mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah) is not accepted[Al-Furqan 25:23].
And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muhammad], and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful.
ولو أنهم إذ ظلموا أنفسهم جاءوك فاستغفروا الله واستغفر لهم الرّسول لوجدوا الله توابا رحيماAnd if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muhammad], and asked forgiveness of Allah
ولو أنهم إذ ظلموا أنفسهم جاءوك فاستغفروا اللهand the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful.
واستغفر لهم الرّسول لوجدوا الله توابا رحيماThe answer is that the verse does not indicate anything future; it indicates something that has already passed and occurred during the life of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Because he said
And if, when they wronged themselves,
ولو أنّهم إذ ظلموا أنفسهمFurthermore, he said
and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them
واستغفر لهم الرسولThe evidence is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
When a person dies, his deeds are cut off
إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عملهWhen a person dies, his deeds are cut off
إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عملهSo the deeds of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were cut off by his death. How can he seek forgiveness for you? He does not seek forgiveness for himself, let alone for you. But pay attention to the end of the hadith:
his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious child, who prays for him
انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاثة: إلا من صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو لهThe student: He benefits.
The Shaykh : He benefits, and he is rewarded for it. He is rewarded for it just as we are rewarded, because all religious knowledge is received from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said:
[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.
كتاب أنزلناه إليك مبارك ليبدروا آياته وليتذكّر أولو الألبابAnd We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought.
ونزّلنا عليك الذكر لتبين للناس ما نزّل إليهم ولعلهم يتفكّرونBy this, we know the deficiency of those who, when they perform an act of obedience, dedicate it to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). There are people who, when they perform an act of obedience, dedicate it to the Messenger, saying, "This is charity for the soul of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." Or they pray two rak'ahs and say, "This is for the soul of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)."
We say: This is a deficiency in understanding. The charity you give, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) receives a reward like yours, even if you do not say so. That is why the jurists, the scholars of Allah and His Shari'ah, the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), never did this. None of them gave charity and said, "This is for the soul of the Messenger." Nor did any of them pray and say, "This is for the soul of the Messenger." None of the blessed generations did this. The Companions, the Successors, and those who followed them in goodness did not dedicate the reward of any deed to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Why? Because they were jurists, scholars who knew that they did not perform any act of obedience except that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had a reward like theirs, because he was the one who guided people to it, i.e., to that righteous deed. So he had a reward like theirs. Even if you see a person neglecting a duty and you guide him to the right path, you receive the reward of his deed based on your teaching him, until he dies. You receive the reward of his deed. The one who guides to good is like the one who does good. The one who guides to good is like the one who does good.
So sincerity to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in worship is a fundamental condition for its acceptance, and shirk (associating partners with Allah), whether in this worship or in anything else, invalidates the worship and everything else. That is why I told you that the one who calls upon a grave, a wali (close friend of Allah), a righteous person, a prophet, or any other created being, his deed is not accepted, even if he is sincere in that deed, because the deed of the mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah) is not accepted